2
When it was my turn to give him the ring, he
<
was gone.
I stared at the ring. I was the one wearing it,
the one trapped.
I thought my compromises would save our
relationship. Clearly, I was wrong.
I grabbed the microphone, facing the crowd.
“Liam and I are divorced. This is a divorce
party. Enjoy the food, then go home.‘
وو
I left Liam’s shocked family and friends,
walking away without looking back.
Liam and I had been legally married for a
while, his family knew. The wedding was
repeatedly postponed. This one was my doing
my desperate attempt to make things work.
A wedding no one wanted was never going to
work.
I ditched my dress and went to the nearest
fire station.
A firefighter, using a saw to cut off the ring,
was sympathetic. “It’s way too small. How did
your husband even get it on? Your finger was
purple! You must have been in so much pain.
I just smiled wryly. Anyone could see the ring
was wrong, but Liam hadn’t cared.
He only cared about his childhood
sweetheart, Bethany.
Finally, the ring snapped, and the color
returned to my finger.
I tossed the broken band in the trash, just like
this broken relationship.
I took a deep breath and called my parents
overseas.
Hearing my mother’s voice, the floodgates.
opened. “Mom, I miss you,” I choked out.
My mother knew something was wrong.
“Kara, Liam hurt you.
وو
Not a question, a statement. The bond
between a mother and daughter.
“Mom, I want a divorce. I’ll come home as
soon as I’m done.”
”
く
“Okay, sweetie. I’m here for you, always.
وو
I hadn’t flown my parents over for the rushed
wedding, afraid they’d see how little he cared.
So, every call, I repeated: “I’m fine. Liam’s
good to me.”
I couldn’t keep up the charade anymore. I’d
never felt valued, so I couldn’t even imagine,
let alone fabricate, a happy story.
Back home, the vibrant red decor of my new
apartment stung my eyes. I cried.
If someone doesn’t love you, why force it?
After my emotional release, I began packing. I
owned surprisingly little. Mostly his and hers
items: slippers, toothbrushes, matching
outfits… all going into the trash.
Mid–packing, I ordered spicy Sichuan
noodles, extra chili and extra peanut sauce.
I’d eaten so blandly for him, now I could
finally eat what I wanted.
As I finished packing, there was a knock.
Liam stood there, holding my takeout. The
contrast was absurd.
